Bookshelf

Columbia’s William (Bill) Claassen encapsulates a unique paradox of silence and volume. He speaks gently of yoga, meditation, monastic retreats and the therapeutic benefits of movement and dance. “I prefer silence,” says Claassen. Yet,…

When studying the rich tapestry of Columbia’s writing community, Steve Weinberg is a repeating pattern. His threads are integral, colorful and diverse. With over four decades of journalism experience, Weinberg has created a solid foundation…

Columbia is filled with many residents who have an idea for a book. What makes Columbia unique is the percentage of people who invest in their idea all the way through to publication. Sean Frazier is a new addition to that ever-growing…

Just in time for springtime hammock reading, Prospect Park Books has released “The Good Byline: A Riley Ellison Mystery,” by Jill Orr. The light, humorous mystery deserves a weekend session of fresh air. Author Jill Orr knew what she…

Alex George is a busy man. Author, attorney, husband and father, George is also the director and founder of Columbia’s Unbound Book Festival. As the festival approaches, it promises to be a stellar second-year event…

Rachel Hall and Joseph Polacco do not know one another, yet their intertwined universes are undeniable. Both are celebrating recent publications. Hall is gaining recognition for Heirlooms, a collection of expertly crafted short stories that…

Lynn Rossy, Ph.D. wants us to take a moment. And, if we are being honest, we could really use it. Each of us has stressors, distracting us and pulling our focus away from our day-to-day lives. In particular, our relationship with food…

photos by of L.G. Patterson In April of 2016, the inaugural Unbound Book Festival filled Columbia with bookish enthusiasm. From the keynote event at the Missouri Theatre, where Mark Doty chatted casually with Michael Ondaatje in front…

photo by L.G. Patterson Aliki Barnstone, Missouri’s poet laureate, was an artistic but shy girl. Raised in a family of writers and artists, her childhood was filled with imagination and creation. She was just 12 when Macmillan published…

photos by Kayla Wolf Columbia author Carolyn Mulford creates strong storylines enhanced by thorough research honed through her years as a journalist and non-fiction writer. In both her award-winning Show Me mystery series for adults and…

Arrowood Book Launch Join author Laura McHugh for a discussion and book signing of her second novel, Arrowood 7 p.m. • Tuesday, Aug. 9 Barnes & Noble, Columbia Mall 2208 Bernadette Drive After working in information technology…

Writing a novel is not a social experience. I favor writing in isolation, where my fictional world can expand. Twice a week, I push my limits and step out of my bubble. I exchange work with other authors, learning, critiquing and…

In a fascinating evolution, society is embracing a new surge of intentional living. One such transformation is found in world traveler Colin Wright. “I still can’t believe this whole travel thing worked out,” says Wright, who spent most…

“I am my mother’s fourth child and my father’s thirty-ninth.” So begins The Sound of Gravel, a riveting coming-of-age memoir by Ruth Wariner. Equal parts harrowing and heart-wrenching, Wariner offers an unsparing account of her childhood in…

In a fascinating evolution, society is embracing a new surge of intentional living. One such transformation is found in world traveler Colin Wright. “I still can’t believe this whole travel thing worked out,” says Wright, who spent most…

Raised in Pennsylvania, Karen Mocker Dabson grew up attending weddings and funerals at St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church. “My great-aunts and -uncles numbered among the 50,000 Croatians that lived and worked in the many small…

Svetlana Grobman recalls hearing stories about America when she was a child growing up in Moscow, but those stories never cast America as a golden land of opportunity. “We were told we lived in the best country in the world,” she…

Eric Praschan might not have familial roots in Columbia, but he knows it is home. Praschan and his wife, Stephanie, arrived here in the fall of 2007. “We came here in faith,” he says. “We didn’t have jobs or family waiting here, but we…

PHOTO BY L.G. PATTERSON School librarian, husband, father and award-winning YA novelist, Brian Katcher hides well behind a bushy beard — until his exuberance catches up with him, and he launches into gesticulated conversations.…

With her debut novel The Ruins of Us, Keija Parssinen became a literary force in Columbia. As both a Michener-Copernicus award winner and the 2013 Daniel Boone Regional Library One Read title, the novel enjoyed widespread success. Her…